How to Find a Romance in a Bookshop : A Novel

After a social media post gone wrong, a literary agent runs away to look after a seaside bookshop for the summerand forms an unlikely friendship with a charming novelist struggling with his latest idea.

Petra doesnt like books anymorenot since her career as a literary agent imploded after a social media typo went viral. Now she is stuck for six months, babysitting a little bookshop by the seasurrounded by books that just remind her of her failure.

Ross McClouds award-winning debut novel blew the minds of the worlds literati, but that was five years ago. Now Ross and his keenly awaited second work have vanished. Something has gone wronghorribly wrongand Ross doesnt want to talk about it.

Marooned in Capelthornes Bookshop miles from London, Petra cant stop thinking about all the ways she has let people down. Then she discovers Ross lurking, incognito, in the second-hand books section. Misery loves company it seems, and a kinship tentatively forms.

In the meantime, the magic of the bookshop slowly begins to enchant Petra. Soon, her book recommendations assume legendary status; she is chairing the newly formed Beach Reads Book Club; leading a weekly writing group and hosting a series of popular talks and signings by local authors. She is even starting to read again.

Petra is also finding time to help her new best friend Jessowner of a local telephone box libraryto launch the inaugural Portneath Literary Festival. What better opportunity to put the Festival on the mapsays Rossthan for Petra to unveil his second novel to the world there, before re-launching her career representing him at the Frankfurt book fair? What a comeback! But can Petra find the courage to help the man she loves?

Their love of books may be re-ignited, but is that enough to save them both from their own worst enemythemselves?

Tropes:

• Friends to lovers
• Grumpy x Grumpy
• Small-town romance
• Slow burn